Richard Madeley has revealed that he was struck down with a month-long superbug over Christmas.
The Good Morning Britain presenter, 66, made a return to the ITV daytime show today along with his co-host Susanna Reid, following the Christmas break - which saw plenty of new faces on our screen, including Gordon Smart and Charlotte Hawkins.
Revealing the illness he was faced with over the holidays, Richard told viewers: “I had that [superbug] all Christmas for a month.
“Never had anything like it before. In fact, I’m beginning to wonder if there’s a new strain of Covid going around.
“I took a test every week, it was always negative, but I can’t help thinking that’s what I had,’ he told home audiences.
Thankfully, the presenter was still able to enjoy the festivities with his granddaughter Bodhi, who was welcomed into the world by his daughter Chloe Madeley and her partner James Haskell in August.
On Boxing Day, the host scrubbed up nicely in a suit and headed out with his wife Judy Finnigan and their daughter Chloe, her husband, and little Bodhi.
Taking to Instagram, Chloe shared the adorable moment that her dad was fussing over her little one in a Boomerang. Richard was seen scrunching his face and then opening his eyes as he held the four-month-old.
Elsewhere in the post, the family posed in front of a larger-than-life festive Christmas tree as the retired rugby star, James, held his arm around his mother-in-law Judy.
Meanwhile, Chloe put on a fashionable display in a black and gold dress and thigh-high boots as she held her tiny tot whilst standing next to her dad.
Personal trainer Chloe’s followers enjoyed seeing the insight into her family’s festive highlights, with one person commenting: “I love how grandparents behave [with] their grandkids. You can always tell they've missed babies!!”
Someone else wrote: “Wonderful, lovely to see your mum and dad and your mum is looking very well. Hope you had a wonderful 1st Christmas with your little one xxx.”
“Lovely photo of you all Chloe,” another follower penned, whilst someone else added: “What a beautiful family pic.”
His Christmas health difficulties come after the GMB host recently garnered 80 Ofcom complaints.
Richard was scrutinised for his interview with RMT union boss Mick Lynch recently, where he appeared to become angry with the General Secretary of RMT over the rail strikes.